Toboggan-slide



(No Model.)

LA MARCUS A. THOMPSON. TOBOGGAN SLIDE.

N0. 520,248. Patented May 22, 1894.

I Hl l\\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LA MARCUS A. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TOBOGGAN-SLIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 520,248, dated May 22, 1894.

Application tiled September 1,1893. Serial No. 484,543. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that LLA MARCUS A. THOMP- sON, acitizen of the United States, residing 1n Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toboggan-Slides, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in toboggan slides.

Toboggan slides as heretofore constructed have been more or less dangerous especially where the inclined chute or way has been furnished with curves and the track given an ice or snow surface and the toboggans or cars furnished with runners instead of wheels, owing to the great speed which the cars would unavoidably sometimes attain and the lack of adequate means for checking or controlling the speed of the cars.` And the object of my invention is to render this more or less daugerous amusement perfectly safe and secure. This important result I secure, and herein my invention primarily consists, by combining with the toboggans or cars and the chute or way therefor, having the usual side walls or guides, one or more, preferably two, lateral brakes mounted upon the car at the sides thereof and adapted to bear against the side walls or guides of the chute or way. As the brakes are thus applied laterally or horizontally against the side Walls of the chute they c an be-applied with any degree of force desired or required, the pressure of the brakes being in no way limitedby the'weiglit of the car and its load; while at the same time the application of the brakes produces no tendency whatever to lift the car from its track or way, but, on the contrary, eiectually prevents any natural tendency which the car or toboggan may have to jump the track when moving rapidly down a curved or other incline. n My invention further consists in the combination with these lateral brakes, the car, and chute having side walls, of a toggle arm and lever mechanism for applying or operating the brakes so that the brakes may be applied quickly and easily with any desired or required pressure.

It further consists, in combination with these parts, in providing such brakes with automatically operating dogs or devices to prevent any backward movement of the car after it should be stopped by the brakes when ascending an inclined portion of the track or chute.

It further consists in connection with the track, chute or way furnished with the side guides or walls of acompound car or toboggan comprising two car bodies pivotally mounted on three short trucks or bobs, the lateral brakes being mounted upon the iniddle truck or bob, thus adapting the car or toboggan to follow the toboggan track or way with great certainty and security.

My invention further consists in the novel devices and novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, andin which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure lis a side elevation of a toboggan slide embodying my invention. Fig. 2 .is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a larger scale, showing one of the cars or toboggans, the car being preferably of the compound construction hereinbefore mentioned. Fig. 4. is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail planv View of the middle truck or bob of the car. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig; 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are details of the brake mechanism.

In the drawings A represents the track, chute, or way, upon which the cars or toboggans travel. This chute or way preferably comprises a number of up and down inclines and a loop portion uniting the two limbs of the chute or way. The inclines are preferably constructed on inclined curves as con- IOO any suitable device for lessening friction, such as runners or wheels. The chute or way A may likewise be of any suitable or well known construction.

In the drawings I have shown the cars B as furnished with shoes or runners and the track A furnished with an artificial ice or snow surface.

In the drawings the artificial ice or snow surface of the track is indicated at d.

a are ammonia or other refrigerating pipes for producing the artificial ice or snow surface on the track or way A.

a2 a3 are insulating spaces to protect the refrigerating pipes a.

The cars B are preferably of a compound construction, each comprising two car bodies B2 furnished with seats B for the passengers and pivotally connected at each end to three trucks B3 B3 Bi, the middle truck of course supporting the adjoining ends of the two car bodies. The trucks or bobs B3 are each furnished with shoes or runners b b or other suitable devices for lessening friction upon the track or way. The car B, or the truck portion B3 thereof if it is of the compound construction having trucks separate and distinct from the body, is provided, or preferably provided, with lateral or horizontal wheels b journaled on vertical pivots b2, and the periphery of which projects slightly beyond the lateral or side edges of the car or truck for the purpose of lessening the friction against the side walls or guides Aot the chute or way. The trucks or bobs B3 are furnished with metal bolster plates B4 upon which the car bodies B2 rest,

and B5 are the pivot pins connecting the car bodies and trucks.

C C are lateral brakes mounted upon the car, and preferably upon the middle truck thereof if it is of the compound construction hereinbefore described, and adapted to bear against the side walls or guides A A of the chute or way. These brakes consist preferably of long fiat bars of metal, slightly curved or bent at their front ends, and hinged or pivoted at the edge of the car or truck by hinge plates or straps C', which are rigidly xed in place by suitable bolts C2.

D is the brake operating lever, the same being pivoted at d to a slotted bracket or housing D secured to the middle board B6 of the truck and passing through a slot B7 therein. This lever is pivotally connected at its lower end to a coupling link D2 to which the inner ends of the toggle arms D4 D4 are also piv oted. The toggle arms D4 are pivoted at their outer ends to brackets C3 rigidly secured to the brakes C. It will thus be s'eenthat the operator by pulling on the upright handle or lever D will operate the toggle arms D4 D4 and cause them to push the brakes C C laterally outward against the side walls A A of the chute A. And the force exerted by the operator, it will be observed, is first multiplied several times by the lever D, as the toggle arms are connected to the short arm of the lever; and then again very greatly by` the action of the toggle arms D4 D4, the effective force of which also increases the more nearly the two toggle arms arey caused to approach a straight line.

Two lateral brakes C C are preferably elnployed as shown in the drawings, as thereby the braking eect is doubled with the same power, and also because by this meamll the resistance is kept equal on both sides of the truck. It will be observed that when the brakes C C are not applied they are adapted to lie just within the outer lateral edges or bearing surfaces of the truck, that is to say within the outer periphery of the horizontal wheels b b'. It the horizontal wheels b' b' should be omitted, it will of course be understood that the brakes C C should lie within the outer lateral edges of the truck itself;A unless it should be desired that the brake plates C C should become the normal udo bearing surfaces of the track, as they ob-A viously might without injury.

D5 is the seat for the brakeman or operator. This is preferably secured to the middle truckV or bob as indicated in the drawings.

In -cases where myinvention is used in unection with cars having only a single trunk 95,r

or body, as contradistinguished from the col pound car herein shown and described, the middle truck shown in the drawings may be considered as representing the complete cnr.

The brakes C are provided each withadng or device c preferablylpivotally mounted in` a suitable slot or opening in the brake plato and adapted to engage the side walls A' A' car in case it should be stopped when I cending an incline. These dogs c c are furnished with springs c c to force them ont into engagement with the side walls A' A' of the track A. It will of course be understood that when the car is moving forward the and vthus prevent backward movement of the spring actuated dogs simply shut or close out of the way;

By reasonof the compound constrnctionol the cars or toboggans B and the pivotal con nection between the parts thereof the three bobs or tracks B3 and the two bodies B4, the

car is adapted to follow the chute or track. A with certainty and prevented from rising from the track when passing rapidly down curved inclines. Because the pivotal cul nection between the three trucks and the tvo car bodies permits them each to turn horizontally in respect to the others when pasing around loops or turns in the track and also to tip longitudinally in respect to other when passing over vertical curves In the track or points where the grade or inclina` of the track varies or changes. It will be 0bserved that the bolster plates B4 are complim-k tively narrow so as to readily permit this longitudinal tipping of the car bodies and trucks in respect to each other; and also that the bolster plates are comparatively short so as to permit any slight rocking or tilting movament sidewise of the bodies B2 B2 in respect to the trucks B3 Bs as may be necessary in passing around the loops or turns in the track. This compound construction of the toboggans or cars permitting as it does independcnt and free movement of the individual parts B2 B2 and B3 B3 B3 in respect to each other as may be required to preserve the proper equilibrium of the car asa whole in moving over different portions of the chute or way, causes the car to tend to hug the track at all times and tends greatly to prevent any tendency of the car to jump or tty the track. At the same time this double or compound construction of the toboggan or car very greatly increases the practical carrying capacity of the car for cach brake mechanism and brakeman employed, and thus accomplishes a material saving both in cost of construction and in cost of operation.

I claim- 1. In a toboggan slide, the combination of a chute or way having side walls or guides, with a car furnished with a lateral brake adapted to bear against the side wall or guide of dsaid chute or way, substantially as speci- 2. In a toboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way having side walls or guides, of a car furnished with a pair of lateral brakes adapted to press horizontally outward against said side walls of the chute or way, substantially as specified.

3. In a toboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way having side walls or guides, of a compound car comprising three trucks or bobs and two car bodies pivotally connected at their ends to said trucks or bobs, and a lateral brake adapted to press against said side wall or guide of said track, substantially as specified.

4. In atoboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way having side walls or guides, of a compound car comprising three trucks or bobs and two car bodies pivotally connected at their ends to said trucks or bobs, and a pair of lateral brakes adapted to bear against said side walls of said chute or way, substantially as specified.

5. Inatoboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way having side walls orv guides, of a car having a lateral brake, an operating lever for said brake and a toggle arm pivotally connected at one end to said brake and at the other end to the short arm of said lever, substantially as specified.

6. In a toboggan slide the combination with a chute or way having side walls or guides, of a caradapted to travel on said way between said guides and furnished with a pair of lateral brakes adapted to bear against said side walls or guides, an operating lever and a pair of toggle arms pivotally connected at their inner ends to the short arm of said lever and at their outer ends to said brakes, substantially as specified.

7. In atoboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way A, having side walls or guides A A', of a car B, having a pair of hinged lateral brakes O C adapted to bear against said side walls or guides, an operating lever D, coupling D2 and toggle arms Dl D, substantially as specied.

8. In a toboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way A,having sidewalls or guides A A', of a compoundV car B, comprising two car bodies B2 B2, and three trucks or bobs B3 B2 B2 upon which saidcar bodies are pivoted, a'pair of lateral brakes C C mounted upon the middle truck or bob B3 and adapted to bear against said side walls or guides, substantially as specified.

9. In atoboggan slide,the combination with a chute or way A, having side walls or guides A A', of a compound car B, comprising two car bodies B2 B2, and three trucks or bobs B3 B3 B3 upon which said car bodies are pivoted,

a pair of lateral brakes C C mounted upon the middle truck or bob B2 and adapted to bear against said side walls or guides, an operatingleverB and toggle arms B4 pivotally connecting said lever and brakes, substantially as specied.

10. In a toboggan slide, the combination with a chuteor way having side walls or guides, of a compound toboggan B comprlsing three bobs B3 furnished with runners and two bodies B2 mounted upon and pivoted at their ends to said bobs, substantially as specified. i

ll. In a toboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way having side walls or guides, of a car furnished with a lateral brake adapted to bear against the side wall or guide, said brake being provided with a dog or device adapted to engage said side wall or guide and arrest backward motion of the car, substantially as specified.

12. In a toboggan slide, the combination with a chute or way having side walls, of a car adapted to travel upon said chute or way between said side walls, a pair of lateral brakes mounted upon said car and adapted to engage said side walls, each of said brakes being furnished with a dog or device adapted to engage said side walls and prevent backward movement of the car, substantially as specified.

LA MARCUS A. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

H. M. IWIUNDAY, EMMA HACK.

IOO

TIOy 

